Driving-box wedge adjustment



E LVSCHELLENS ban/me BOX WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. APPLICATION FILED MAR-.13.,19 22.

.latented Nov. 28, 1922.

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E. L. SCHELLENS v omvme BOX-WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3, I922. 1,436,728.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. L. SQHELLENS.

DRIVI NG BOX WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 13. I922.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

Fate-rated Nov. 28, 1621 2;.

UNET S @F ii EUGENE L. SCHELLENS, 01" POIN'IE CLAIRE, QUEBEC, CANADA,ASE-IGNOE T9 FEANK- LIN RAILWAY SUPPLY- COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

DRIVING-BOX WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.

Application filed March 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. Sonar.- LENS, a citizen "of the UnitedStates, residing at Pointe Claire, in the Province of Quebec, Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Box W edgeAdjustments, oil which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the adjustment of automatic wear compensatingdevices or mechanism for journal boxes, particularly wear compensatingwedges for the driving boxes of locomotives. I aim to make theadjustment of the compensating devices as easy and convenient aspossible; to make the mechanism simple, rugged, durable, and proofagainst serious maladjustment; and to afford plain and definiteindications of when, on the one hand, the cumulated wear so great as torequire readjustment, and of when, on the other hand, the bestreadjustment has been properly made.

How these and other advantages can be secured through my invention willappear from my description hereinafter of the best embodiment of theinvention known to me.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a steam locomotive driving box withprovision for adjustment according to my invention. The box proper andthe compensating wedges are here shown in transverse section, while theadjusting mechanism proper, the pedestel jaws of the locomotive frame,and the pedestal binder are shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the adjusting mechanism on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing an axial midsection through theadjusting mechanism and associated parts, taken par allel with the planeof the paper in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4t is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 3, taken as indicatedby the line 4 4. in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view oi the adjusting mechanism.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section taken as indicated by the line 66 in Fig.1.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a'wear or abutnent plate shown in Figs. 2 to4:.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view 01' another part of the mechanism, inassociation with the wedge bolt.

The locomotive frame 13 in Fig. 1. has the usual pedestal jaws 141, 15wherein is mount- Serial No. 543,461.

ed for vertical play the driving box 16, with glbs 17, 18 on itspedestal faces. The frame 13 has also the usual pedestal binder 19.Between the driving box gib 18 and the adjacent pedestal jaw 15 (whichhas an in clined face) are interposed two wedges 20, 21 which affordautomatic compensation for wear of the driving box and he pedestaljaws,in a manner well understood in the art. The main wedge 20 isattached to one end of the rod or bolt 22 that extends down through anopening in the pedestal binder 19. This wedge 20 is automatically andyieldingly pressed home by mechanism of my invention, collectivelyindicated at Not only does the mechanism 23 serve in the automaticadjustment of the compensating device 20, 21, but it is itselfadjustable to assure proper action of said device.

Referring, now, to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it will be seen that in the presentinstance, the bolt 22 is so attached or connected to the wedge 20 as tobe rotatable. This attachment is effected very simply, by engagement ofthe circumi erentially grooved upper end 24 of the bolt 22 withshoulders 25 at the sides of a fore and aft groove in the lower end ofthe wedge 20.

From Figs. 1 to 8 generally, it will be seen that the wedge actuatingmechanism 23 comprises a helical compression spring 26 acting through anut 27 threaded on the bolt 22. As shown, the upper end of the spring 26is seated and engaged around a central bossor ridge 28 on the lower sideof the nut 2?, while the lower end of said spring is seated and engagedagainst a mem ber 30, which thus serves as an abutment for the sprii'ig.Surrounding the bolt 22 within the spring 26 is an auxiliary helicalcompression spring 31, which is seated and acts on the boss or ridge 28at its upper end and on the bottom of a shallow annular depression 33 inthe member 30 at its lower end. Rotation of the nut 27 with the bolt 22is prevented by free-sliding, antiturning connection of said nut with ahollow part 35, which serves as a means of support for the springs 26and 31 and the interposed abutment m mber 30, and also as a housingabout the springs and the nut. As shown, free-sliding, anti-turningconnection of the parts is effected by engagement of diametricallyopposite radial and vertical lugs 36 on the nut 27 in correspondingvertical slots 37 in the upper end of the part 35. The part it will beseen, is fixedly secured to the lower side of the pedestal binder 19, bymeans of bolts 38 taking through ears or lugs 39 on said part 35.

As here shown, the lower portion 41 or the bolt 22 projects and isexposed below the part 35, and is squared to afford a convenient holdfor a wrench or other means for turning the bolt. Byturning the bolt 22one way or the other, the nut 27 can be moved up or down with referenceto the parts 30 and 35, and the compression or initial tension of thesprings 26 and 31 thus varied. The part 30 is in tree-sliding,antiturning connection with the bolt 22, by virtue of the squared formof the bolt at 4.1. and the corresponding square shape and size or theopening in said part 30 through which the bolt extends, so that theparts 22 and 30 are constrained to turn together without the latterinterfering with the necessary endwise movement of the bolt from time totime. In the present instance, the part 30 not only rests or bears onthe internal flange or bottom l2 of the cup-like part 35, but also has areduced lower portion that projects through the round opening in thelower end oi the part 35 and is made hexagonal at 43 to ali'ord aconvenient hold for a wrench. or the like. Thus the member 30 is adaptedto serve as an actuator for turning the bolt 22 to adjust the initialtension of the springs 26 and 31. For this purpose it presents theadvantage over direct actuation of the bolt 22 that its verticalposition is not affected by wear of the wedges 20, 21 and the box 16.

Referring, now, especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 4;, it will be observedthat the apertures 37 in the housing 85 render. the lug portions 36 ofthe nut 27 plainly visible, so that they may cooperate with the part 35to afford an indication of the state of adjustment of the springs 26 and31 from time to time. As shown, the slots 37 are of such length as topermit a range of adjustment greater than desirable for any particularspring.

Accordingly, the lug 36 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a conspicuous indexmark A, and the part has two pairs of coacting index marks B, B and G, Cat different heights. B, B and C, C are so determined and located thatwhen A registers with B, B, (as shown), the springs 26 and 31 arecompressed to a proper maximum degree; while when the mark A comes toregister with G, C, the springs will be so relaxed (through upwardmovement of the wedge 20 due to wear at the box 16) as to requirereadjustment of the mechanism, by tightening of the nut 27 on thesprings.

Referring, now, especially to Figs. 2, 3, 1-. 5 and 8. it will be seenthat on the bottom of the member are four equally spaced, low, radial,arc-shaped projections or protuberances s5, and that in the bottom orthe bracket support 35 are corresponding shallow, arc-shaped, radial.depressions or recesses 46. By means of these projections 4:5 anddepressions 6 at the abutting surfaces of the parts 30 and 35, themember 30 1S held or locked against turning and loosening of the nut 27thereby in consequence of vibration; also, overtightening oi the nut 27,so as to compress the springs solid and so cause binding or jamming ofthe wedge 20, is efi'ectually prevented. This latter result follows fromthe fact that it the member 30 is turned down so as just to make thespring substantially solid, its projections l5 will rest on. the flatsurface of the support 35 so close to the depressions at that a slightfurther turn will bring them into said depressions and relax the spring;and the resistance to still further turning of the nut such as to carrythe projections out 0]. the depressions will then be so great that eventhe most careless workman will give up the attempt. Leaving the projections as just about to enter a depression 416 with the springs solid,will, again, be harmless, because the pressure on the wedges 21') and 21thus created will not be augmented suliiciently to cause actual jamming(by heating up and expansion ot the parts in service) before vibrationwill have caused the nut 27 to unscrew till the pressure is relaxed andthe projections 45 drop into the adj acent been turned past by theworkman. By the parts 30 and 35 in cooperation, therefore,overtightening on the springs 26 and 31 by turning the bolt 22 iseilectually prevented.

As shown by Figs. 2, 3, 4: and 7, the part 30 is provided. orsupplemented with a sort of wear plate or racing 50, of relatively thinsheet metal, embossed to conform to its upper surface. In the presentinstance, this part 50 has anti-turning connection with the part 35, byengagement of a pcripheral lug 51 on the part 50 in a slot aperture inthe lower portion ot the part 35. This part 50 obviates scoring of thepart 30 by the spring ends, and. is not so scored itself, because itremains stationary along with the springs when the part 30 turns.

What I claim is:

1. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedgebolt, an adjusting nut thereon, and an actuating spring for the wedgeacting through said nut.

2. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedgebolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge actingthrough said nut; and a rotary actuator for turning the bolt affordingabutment for said spring.

3. Adjusting means for a compensating depressions 46 that they had lastllO wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon;an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; and a rotaryactuating member about the lower portion of the bolt in free-sliding,anti-turning connection therewith.

4:- Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatablewedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedgeacting through said nut; supporting means for said spring; and a rotaryactuator for turning the bolt projecting below said supporting means.

5. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedgebolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge actingthrough said nut; and supporting means for said spring cooperating withsaid nut to indicate the adjustment of the wedge.

6. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedgebolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge actingthrough said nut; supporting means for said spring; and a rotaryactuator for turning the bolt affording abutment for the spring andcooperating with said supporting means to prevent overtightening on thespring.

7. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedgebolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge actingthrough said nut; supporting means for said spring; and means forpreventing overtightening on the sprin by turning of said bolt.

8. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedgebolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge actingthrough said nut; and supporting means for said spring in free-sliding,anti-turning engagement with said nut.

9. Adjusting means for a compensating Wedge comprising a rotatable wedgebolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge actingthrough said nut; a rotary actuator for turning the bolt to tighten thespring; with means for prelZenting overtightening on the spring there-10. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatablewedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedgeacting through said nut; supporting means for said spring infree-sliding, anti-turning engagement with said nut; and a rotaryactuator for turning the bolt interposed between said spring and saidsupport and projecting below the latter.

11. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatablewedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedgeacting through said nut; a housing about said spring and nut, infree-sliding, anti-turning engagement with the latter, and apertured torender the same visible and afford an indication of the adjustment ofthe spring; and a rotary member in said housing about said bolt infree-sliding, anti-turning connection therewith, affording abutment forsaid spring and cooperating with said housing to prevent overtighteningon the spring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EUGENE L. SCHELLENS.

